Cusco and the Wonders of Southern Peru – 12 Days

DAY 01: ARRIVAL IN THE CITY OF CUSCO

Upon arrival, reception by our collaborators and transfer to the hotel. Welcome with coca-leaves tea.

CITY TOUR AND SURROUNDINGS

We pick you up from your hotel according to the scheduled time of the Tour. Our starting point will be the Main Square, better known as Plaza de Armas of Cusco. And during the Inca time it was also called Awqaypata or the Warrior Square. Next, we will visit the Qoricancha, Temple of the God Inti, on which the Church of Santo Domingo was built. Then we will visit the Archaeological Park of Sacsayhuaman, where the Inti Raymi ceremony takes place, after that will be Qenqo, the ancient temple of the Puma where you can see an altar for sacrifices inside a huge rock; Pucapucara, which was a point of entry and exit control, Tambomachay, which contains sacred sources of life and health. Return to Cusco by 6:00 p.m. approximately.

DAY 02: SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS + CONNECTION TO AGUAS CALIENTES

Pick up from your hotel by 08:00 a.m. approx. We will start the tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas taking the road to Pisaq, during the tour we will make a brief stop at the Taray viewpoint to enjoy a classic view of the meandering Urubamba River, through the different carpets of the farm fields. We will arrive at the archaeological center of Pisaq, the largest pre-Hispanic cemetery in the city of Cusco; then we will go to the colorful Pisaq market where we will have free time to interact with the residents and artisans, there, you will be able to make purchases of beautiful handicrafts and souvenirs. Then, we will continue to Urubamba for a buffet lunch. Continuing with our trip, we will visit Ollantaytambo, an attractive town of Inca origin with notable canals and cobbled streets; from the upper part, an impressive ceremonial center for the worship of water and a fortress that protected the access to the lower part of the valley can be seen. Then, you will continue to the train station to catch the train that will take you to Aguas Calientes town where you will spend the night.

DAY 03: MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO

Breakfast at 08:00 a.m. Our staff will assist you to get on the tourist bus and go up to the citadel of the Incas “Machu Picchu”. The journey will be 40 minutes. Then we will enter and start our guided tour of approximately 2 hours. During the tour we will be able to visit strategic points for your photographs and important places such as: terraces, stairways, ceremonial precincts and dwelling places. At the end of our tour, you will descend to the town of Aguas Calientes to have lunch (not included) return by train to the Ollantaytambo or Poroy station, our staff will be waiting to transfer you to the City of Cusco.

DAY 04: RAINBOW MOUNTAIN

Pick up from your hotel, from 04:30 to 05:00 hours approximately. We will go to the town of Cusipata for about 02 hours, where we will make a stop at a restaurant to have breakfast, then we will continue for 1 more hour towards the starting point of the trek called Chilliwani at 4700 m.a.s.l., from there we will start our trek to the famous rainbow mountain for 02 hours, uphill (4 kilometers approximately) Once on the mountain, you can take pictures, listen to the guide’s explanations and enjoy the wonderful scenery of the area. The time you will spend in the mountain is from 30 minutes to 01 hour approximately, depending on weather conditions. After that, we will prepare for the trek back to the tourist transport station, which will be the end of the trek. Using our transport, we will return back to Cusipata where we will stop for having a buffet lunch. Finally, we will be arriving in the city of Cusco by 5:00 p.m. approximately.

DAY 05: SALT MINES OF MARAS – MORAY

We pick you up from your hotel at 08:30 AM, we go to the picturesque town of Maras, which is 40 km from Cusco; one of the most incredible places in the Andean South America. The importance of the place is given by the salt mines it owns; they are made up of about 4,200 natural salt wells. The Salt Mines of Maras have been exploited since the time of the Incas which were used as a means of economic exchange. Nowadays it is also used as an ingredient in gourmet cuisine worldwide.

Continuing with the tour, we will go to the archaeological group of Moray, located at about 7 km of Maras. Moray is a group of circular crop terraces of different sizes, which in the time of the Incas were used as an agricultural experimental center. Return to Cusco. 14:30 hours approximately.

DAY 06: HUMANTAY LAKE

We pick you up from your hotel between 04:00 a.m. and 04:30 a.m., and then we will go to the town of Mollepata, the journey will be for about two hours, where we will enjoy a delicious breakfast, continuing with the tour for 01 hour more towards the starting point, Soraypampa at 3900 m.a.s.l. once there, we will start the walk towards the Humantay lake uphill around 02 hours (03 kilometers approximately) upon arrival you will have enough time to take photographs, listen to the explanations of the guide and enjoy all the wonderful landscape of area. The time you will spend in the Humantay lake is from 45 minutes to an hour, depending on weather conditions. After that, we will start with the return walk, taking the transport back to Mollepata for an hour, where another brief stop will be made to enjoy a buffet lunch. Finally, we will be arriving in Cusco by 18:30 hours approximately.

DAY 07: CUSCO – PUNO – ROUTE OF THE SUN

Pick up from your hotel at 06:30 a.m. approximately. Transfer to the executive-bus station, to start our trip to the city of Puno along the Route of the Sun. During our trip we will visit different places of charm and mystery such as: the Sistine Chapel of Andahuaylillas, the archaeological complex of Raqchi, after that you will have lunch in a local restaurant, and then continuing our route we will visit the Lithic Museum of Pucará. Finally, we will arrive in Puno. Transfer to the hotel.

DAY 08 UROS AND TAQUILE, FULL DAY

07:00 a.m. to 07:25 a.m. Pick up from your hotel (city center), to transfer you to the port, where we will board a speedboat that will take us to the floating islands of Uros, we will spend approximately 01 hour and 30minutes visiting the island. Where we will appreciate their daily life and the demonstration of how they built their islands, we will have free time to explore, take photos and take a short ride on the typical raft of the island. Later we will 0continue our trip to the Island of Taquile, where the inhabitants still keep their culture alive, experts in the art of weaving. Near the square we will have lunch based on fresh fish (trout) or vegetable omelet at a local restaurant. Finally, we will descend to the port to take our boat that will take us back to Puno.

• 10:30 p.m. Departure towards the bus station to take the bus to the city of Arequipa

DAY 09: AREQUIPA – CITY TOUR Y VIEWPOINTS

Upon your arrival in Arequipa, our staff will be waiting for you to transfer you to your hotel.

CITY TOUR + VIEWPOINTS

At the indicated time, we will pick you up from your hotel to visit the main viewpoints of the city of Arequipa – Mirador de Carmen Alto (Carmen Alto Viewpoint) and Mirador de Yanahuara (Yanahuara Viewpoint). After spending the right time in each place, we will return to the historical center of the city (Pedestrian Visit), where we will appreciate the Plaza de Armas (Main Square), the impressive Cathedral, Church and Cloisters of the Compañía de Jesús, the Handcraft Center of Arequipa (former jail) of the Fierro Country-State, as well as the Monastery of Santa Catalina. Finally, we will return to your hotel.

DAY 10: AREQUIPA – CHIVAY

07:00 a.m. Breakfast at your hotel. 08:00 a.m. We will pick you up from your hotel to transfer you towards the Colca Canyon. We will start our journey along the road to Yura, where we will admire the natural and cultural landscape of the area, we will border the Chachani volcano and pass through the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve until we reach Pampa Cañahuas, in this place the guide will explain about the flora and fauna of the area, here we will appreciate the natural habitat of the South American camelids specially the VICUNA (vicuña). Continuing with the tour, we will stop on the way for a while in Patahuasi (house on the top), continuing with the trip we will arrive at the cushion bogs where we will observe different species of birds, both local and migratory, from the area according to the season, we will continue to Patapampa, the highest point of the trip, located at 4900 m.a.s.l. approximately. Also known as the Mirador de los Andes (The Andes Viewpoint), here you will be able to see different volcanoes such as HualcaHualca, Sabancaya, Ampato, Ubinas. Then, arrival in the town of Chivay to enjoy a delicious lunch. We can enjoy the hot-springs (optional) and then return to Chivay, where we will spend the night.

DAY 11: CHIVAY – CRUZ DEL CONDOR – CHIVAY – AREQUIPA

06:00 a.m. approximately, after having breakfast at the hotel we will go to the Mirador de la Cruz del Cóndor, we will be travelling for about an hour. On the way we will make a stop in the town of YANQUE to be able to appreciate its colonial church, the Wititi dance; as well as the typical costume of the area, when we arrive at the viewpoint of Cruz del Condor, we will have enough time to be able to watch the majestic flight of the condor and to see the depth of the canyon. On the way back to Chivay we will visit the towns of PINCHOLLO, MACA, ACHOMA, the guide will explain the different customs of each place, as well as the Lito models, colonial churches and terraces. Upon arrival in Chivay we will stop to enjoy a delicious lunch, finally return to the city of Arequipa.

DAY 12: RETURN TO YOUR COUNTRY OR CITY

Breakfast, transfer to the airport to board your return flight to your city or international connection.

INCLUDES

CUSCO

• Transportation, Airport – Hotel – Bus Station
• Full Cusco Tourist Ticket – BTCI (entrance ticket to the archaeological centers and Qoricancha)
• City Tour
• Sacred Valley of the Incas Tour
• Buffet lunch in the Sacred Valley
• Professional bilingual guide for all tours
• 04 nights of accommodation in Cusco with breakfast and taxes included
• Round-trip Tourist-train tickets (regular service)
• Entrance ticket to the citadel of Machu Picchu
• 01 night of accommodation in Aguas Calientes Town with breakfast and taxes included.
• Round trip Bus ticket, Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes.
• Transportation Ollantaytambo – Cusco.
• Rainbow Mountain Tour. Includes breakfast, buffet lunch and entrance tickets.
• Salt Mines of Maras – Moray Tour, includes entrances ticket to the salt mines.
• Humantay Lake tour, includes breakfast, buffet lunch and entrance tickets..
• First aid kit.
• Trekking canes (for Rainbow Mountain and Humantay Lake Tours)
• Cusco4travel personalized service
• Cusco – Puno and Route of the Sun bus ticket. Entrance tickets included

PUNO

• Transportation, Bus station – Hotel – Bus station
• 01 night of accommodation.
• Uros Island Tour, Taquile (lunch, professional tour guide and boat, entrance tickets)
• Cusco4travel personalized service
• Puno – Arequipa bus ticket.

AREQUIPA

• Transportation, Bus station – Hotel – Bus station.
• 02 nights of accommodation in Arequipa with breakfast and taxes included.
• City Tour + viewpoints (entrance tickets and professional tour guide)
• Colca Canyon Tour 02 days / 01 night (entrance tickets, 01 lunch, 01 dinner and professional tour guide)
• 01 night of accommodation in Colca with breakfast and taxes included.
• Cusco4travel personalized service

DOES NOT INCLUDE

• Alcoholic drinks, soft drinks or mineral water.
• Extra expenses
• Tips
• Second option tours or excursions (prices separately)
• Excursion to Huayna Picchu US$ 25.00 per person (subject to availability)
• 2nd day lunch in the Colca Canyon tour
• Not mentioned food in the program.

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Original Passport
• Face mask
• Warm clothes
• Sunscreen
• Bottle of water
• Small backpack
• Trekking shoes
• Rain poncho (for the season of October – April)
• Sun hat, sunscreen
• Digital camera
• Personal medications. (if necessary)
• Extra money

IMPORTANT

• Price per person in US dollars
• This document is only a travel estimate and not a confirmation of service
• Reservations can only be confirmed when requested by an advance payment of 60% of the total cost.
• There is no blocking of spaces either in hotels or in the services
• Cusco4travel recommends the purchase of travel insurance.
• You can pay with any credit/debit card or by bank deposit or platforms provided by us.